34th Week in Ordinary Time : Monday 25th November 2019

Apart from the doctrine inherent in today’s story and especially in Jesus’ comment, this passage can act as a test of our knowledge of the incarnate Jesus. Many people find it difficult in practice to distinguish clearly between Jesus in his real human nature and his Divine nature. They will presume that, since Jesus was the Son of God even in his human nature he knew everything. This attitude prevents us from a true appreciation of the wonderful mystery of Jesus’ self-emptying in the Incarnation, and so it tends to set Jesus aside from the ordinary human experience which is ours.

Thus did Jesus know how much money the widow actually put into the treasury and that it represented what she could not afford? Was this not rather his appreciative understanding, coming from his contemplation of the old woman? We must always remember that Jesus in his human nature had highly developed imaginative senses and sensitivity and from the ordinary circumstances of life, like the old very ordinarily dressed old woman making her offering, he could see traces and images of the kingdom of God. Such an approach will help us to become more sensitive to God’s real presence in the many lights and shadows of life.

Grant us, Lord, a truly contemplative heart to recognize Your Kingdom in the ordinary circumstances of life.